Lloyd Doggett, Filemon Vela, Gene Green, and Beto O’Rourke were the only Texas Democrats who voted to end the NSA data collection method.

The amendment by Rep. Justin Amash, a Michigan Republican who endorsed Ron Paul for president in 2012, was voted down in a 205-217 vote on Wednesday.

The vote — the first NSA-related tally since Edward Snowden leaked details of the agency’s surveillance methods — would have ended authority for the blanket collection of records.

The legislation would have banned the NSA and other agencies from using Section 215 of the Patriot Act to collect records, including telephone call records.

Members of the Texas Delegation were split on whether or not the NSA should be allowed to collect the data of citizens across the country, regardless of whether or not they have already committed a crime.

With the amendment falling just seven votes short of passage, the difference could well have been the eight Texas Democrats and 14 Texas Republicans who voted with their party leadership (and the White House) to protect NSA spying powers.

Six of ten North Texas Republicans bucked their party leadership, as well as four of the Houston area’s nine GOP lawmakers. Every West Texas Republican — as well as San Antonio’s sole Republican, Lamar Smith — sided with the GOP leadership, White House and NSA.

“It is encouraging to see that so many of our Texas Republican congressmen are willing to protect our privacy by reining in NSA spying,” said Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas Chairman Jeffrey Larson, “and disappointing to see so many Republicans voting against them and with Nancy Pelosi to maintain the status quo.”

Rep. Bill Flores was torn about cutting NSA’s surveillance authority, but ultimately voted against the Amash amendment in favor of the Pompeo (Nugent) amendment. Flores stated that the restrictions proposed by the “awkwardly constructed” Amash amendment were of great concern to him.

The Amash amendment would have prevented the collection and analysis of any ‘tangible things’ in America. “This could protect the data of terrorists who are operating in this country and make our national vulnerable to future terrorist attacks,” said the Bryan Republican.

Flores also had the opportunity to participate in classified briefings regarding the NSA metadata and PRISM programs. While he recognizes the importance of using these tools to prevent terrorist attacks, Flores believes it is necessary to fire the two individuals responsible for the management of the programs:

Based upon what I learned from those meetings, I know that these programs have helped thwart terrorist attacks in the past. It is also my opinion from those meetings that the NSA and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) personnel involved are working hard to comply with the law, to protect our Constitutional liberties, and to keep America safe. I believe that with improved Congressional oversight, these programs will be effective tools to prevent terrorist attacks in the future. Nonetheless, I have serious reservations about the two individuals who are ultimately responsible for the management of these programs – Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and Attorney General Eric Holder. I remain extremely concerned about their honesty, leadership and commitment to protecting our Constitutionally guaranteed liberties. As such, I will redouble my efforts to have them removed from their federal positions as soon as possible.

Rep. Kenny Marchant, who voted in favor of the amendment to restrict surveillance, released the following statement after the legislation failed to pass:

“This well-intentioned reform would have taken major steps to protect law-abiding American citizens from the NSA’s overly invasive electronic surveillance. There are many other ways we can successfully fight terrorism without forcing the American people to sacrifice their individual liberties. The rights of the American people should not continue to be infringed upon by the NSA’s blanket collection of electronic records.”

Rep. Blake Farenthold and Rep. Randy Weber also voted in favor of the Amash amendment to prohibit NSA data collection. The Texas Republicans showed dissatisfaction with the resulting failure of the amendment.

Disappointed the vote to defund #NSA phone collection program failed in the House. If we don't draw the line, what's off-limits to the govt?

Rep. Steve Stockman cited the Bill of Rights as to why he supported the Amash amendment:

“The Fourth Amendment clearly and unequivocally denies government the authority to invade privacy without a lawful warrant issued “upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” Blanket surveillance of all citizens is precisely what the Constitution prohibits.”

Rep. John Culberson stated that the Amash Amendment was essentially a “light switch” that turned the money either full on or fully off, but did nothing to fix the flawed but vital program. Culberson is working with the House Intelligence Committee to create a separate bill in October to revise the NSA programs and change the Patriot Act in order to ensure that the NSA can only focus its work on foreign nationals.

Culberson voted for the Pompeo Amendment instead of the Amash Amendment because Pompeo focuses more on American citizens:

“The NSA serves an important role in protecting Americans at home by tracking terror suspects abroad. The Amash Amendment would have prevented the collection and analysis of ALL bulk data in America — not just the data of American citizens. This would protect the data of terrorists who are operating sleeper cells in this country and make us vulnerable to future terrorist attacks. The NSA has successfully stopped several domestic terrorist attacks, and we need to continue tracking and stopping terrorists while at the same time protecting the privacy and Constitutional rights of American citizens.”

Rep. Kevin Brady supported the Pompeo Amendment instead of the Amash Amendment for the same reason as Rep. Culberson:

“I supported the amendment by Rep. Pompeo to ensure that NSA can’t target a U.S. person or acquire & store the content of… their communications – including phone calls and e-mails – without a warrant. This provides an extra layer of protection for the privacy of your content. After a lot of deliberation and study, I didn’t support the amendment by Rep. Amash that ends the authority of the blanket collection of records under the Patriot Act. Look, I do not trust this Obama administration to protect our civil liberties. But it doesn’t make sense to completely destroy an intelligence tool so vital to keeping our families safe.”

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee stated her opposition to the Amash Amendment on the House floor prior to voting:

“I believe the questions raised by supporters of the Amash/Conyers Amendment about the NSA metadata program are legitimate, particularly the question whether there are sufficient protections for Americans’ civil liberties. On the other hand, I am concerned that the amendment would also have the effect of precluding the use of section 501 to obtain an individual order for any business record (not just telephone data) about a person associated with someone who is the subject of an authorized investigation”

Jackson Lee said that she did not support the amendment because a “funds limitation provision on an appropriations bill is poorly suited for this purpose.”